Anyone who has been injured in a Missouri car wreck will attest to grappling with uncertainty, pain, frustration, and of course worries. Claiming compensation can be a complex process, but things can become murky when the collision involves a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. Continue reading to understand why you need an experienced lawyer after a rideshare collision in Missouri.
The Complexities of Ridesharing Accidents
Unlike traditional taxi companies, rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors. This distinction can significantly impact who is liable for damages in case of a car wreck.
Nonetheless, Uber does have its well-known $1 million commercial policy in place. Well, make no mistake, the million-dollar coverage comes with a host of conditions, and Uber is known to bring in a volley of high-priced lawyers to shoot down all attempts to claim compensation from them.
- The stage of the Uber ride makes all the difference: There are only two scenarios in which the $1 million policy kicks into effect. First, if the Uber driver is in “Active ride” mode or “On Trip” at the time of the collision and is the at-fault motorist. Secondly, if the Uber driver is involved in a car wreck with an uninsured/underinsured motorist who is at fault.
- What happens if the Uber driver is not logged in: If the Uber driver is in between rides (even if he/she is logged into the app), headed home, or if their car is not being used to ferry Uber passengers, only the driver’s personal liability coverage will apply. Fortunately, Missouri has a mandatory minimum level auto insurance requirement that provides coverage of $25,000 per victim for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
- You may encounter a few problems: The compensation that you can receive depends on two factors; the extent of your injuries and the extent to which the other motorist can be held responsible for the accident. Missouri is a pure comparative negligence state. This means if you are partly responsible for the collision, you cannot claim 100% compensation for your injuries from the other at-fault party. Uber drivers are essentially involved in commercial operations when acting as collaborators for the ride-sharing company. Therefore, their insurance company may refuse to accept a third-party liability claim.
- An experienced Missouri rideshare accident attorney can save the day for you! Rideshare companies frequently change their policies and insurance companies revise their coverage they provide to accommodate the needs of these multi-million-dollar corporate entities. States make changes to their laws to safeguard the rights of individuals using rideshare apps.
DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers’ in Kansas City has experienced attorneys that keep abreast of all these changes and develop strategies on how to best use them to obtain fair compensation for our clients.
Moreover, our attorneys know all the tricks that at-fault motorists, their insurance companies, and ride-share apps use to shun responsibility for the damages suffered by the victim.
Also, our litigation-hardened lawyers are tough negotiators, hence why we do not settle for anything less than rightful compensation for our clients.
In the event of an injury caused by an Uber collision in Missouri, contact DeVaughn James in Kansas City immediately and let our attorneys handle your compensation claim while you focus on your recovery.